Chapter 33

RR through our eyes (Chapter 33)

 

Thanks Mano for the edits.

 

I was ready to reveal some secrets. But most of you wanted to see how the Suhaag Raat will happen. So here it is...............

 

Paro waited and waited. Rudra was nowhere to be seen. She was tired after the long eventful day. All she wanted was to change into something comfortable and be with her husband. To lie down in his arms. To hug him tight. Be showered with kisses. To return the favour with all fervour. And.............No. She will have to stop these thoughts for now. Lest she gets carried away.

 

Everything went so well in the morning. It was a dream come true for her. She had always wanted a wedding in India. But to this grand scale and glory – she never thought of. Her parents were particular that their only daughter’s wedding should be one which “Duniya” will talk about for days to come. No, her parents were not the type to show off. But this is something which they also looked forward to.

 

And Rudra made it more special as if he read her mind. As if he knew exactly what will make her happy. She blushed thinking of how her friends made fun of her. About how lucky she was – that a husband who took so much care of the decorations and the rituals (in spite of not believing in them himself) will definitely take care of all her needs and wants and fantasies.

 

Time ticked by. Still no sign of Rudra. She wondered what he was doing at this late hour. Which friend of his will be still around to talk to him ? How can one have such a stupid friend ? Doesn’t the friend know that it is their Suhaag Raat ? Well not technically but still........Even if the friend had no brains what was Rudra doing down there ? Paro could feel restlessness and annoyance  building up inside her.

 

It hurt now. She had expected him to hold her hand and to bring her to the room. Or maybe even carry her like in movies. To look at her with those dreamy eyes and tell her how much he had waited for this moment. Instead he had asked her to proceed to the room on her own ? Why ? He was so loving and caring and romantic the entire day. She tried to think back and see when his attitude changed. He was okay during the wedding. The lunch. Yes he was upset when he could not locate her later. But he was happy during the reception and the dinner. Was it after the dinner that he started to act weird ?

 

She looked around. The room was beautifully decorated. The thick curtains were still not drawn and light was streaking in outside – probably from the opposite mall. Maithili Jija had taken great care to decorate the room. She thought. She is so lucky to have such a great family around her. But where is Rudra ? Like a person who is hungry keeps thinking of food - even after trying to distract himself with other thoughts – she kept coming back to one name – Rudra.

 

Her eyes fell on the champagne on one side and wine on the other side. She itched to take a sip of the iced champagne. After waiting for 5 more minutes she opened it. And had a sip and another one and another one.

 

*******

The elders retired to their respective rooms. And the last of his friends also said good bye. Rudra wanted to clear his mind. He was not yet ready to face Paro. Meeting the NGO worker Phulwari and finding out that Paro knows her well had shaken him. How well did they know each other ? He had seen recordings of Paro talking to herself about the nightmares and flashes which she keeps seeing. Those videos were the ones which made him realise that she is his Paro who has lost her memory. But .........

 

Were those dreams coming back from her own memory ?

Or was it borrowed by her brain from the stories shared by Phulwari ?

What if the latter had told or shared information about Rudra and Paro ? And that came out in the form of nightmares ?

What if ........?  Kahin Aisa Na Ho Ki .....................

Rudra was scared to even utter those words and questions in his mind.

What if Myrah is not Paro ?

What if she is really Myrah ?

What if these nightmares are in no way connected to her ?

 

No it cannot be. She is Paro. His Paro. It has to be “Bhagya” as Paro used to say that she came back to his life. That she came to India. That Rudra was chosen by her uncle as her bodyguard. Hasn’t she time and again talked like his Paro ? Acted like her ? Treated him with the same affection and care.

 

It cannot be anything else. Maybe she knew Phulwari. Maybe she was even told the story by Phulwari. Though he cannot think of any reason why their story of the hate marriage be shared with Paro.

In what context ?

 

Paro said she worked with NGOs for sorting out problems of different kinds of abuse. And that she met Murthy and Phulwari in that context. Looking back at the scene he could hear Paro asking Phulwari , why she is quiet after meeting Paro. What does that mean ? They never met face to face before ? But how could Paro identify Murthy then ?

 

Well he was left with only questions and no answers. He cannot confront Paro directly too. What if it all turned out that Paro got no information from the NGO organisation?  This line of questioning is bound to make her suspicious and to start asking more questions. Oh she looks hale and healthy now but her doctor from US who had come down had specifically told him to be careful to not trigger any old memories. But he could not talk more with the doctor as the Mehras walked in at that moment.

 

Rudra ran his hands through his hair in frustration. His mind is not at ease. The seed of doubt has been planted by the presence of the NGO woman. It was tough for him to act as if everything is fine. He was not ready to face Paro yet. He was hoping that she had gone to sleep already. So that he can sneak in and pretend in the morning that all is fine.

 

One should be careful about whom you invite for the wedding !! Till a couple of hours back he was the happiest man in the world.  That the wedding went off so well. That Paro was happy with the things he had arranged. He was happy to see her holding onto Dhruv’s hand for the blessings. To see them as a family with their near and dear ones. He had panicked in between for some time when he could not reach her but all was well. Tejawat did not make any appearance. Nor did he create any sort of problem.

 

Yesterday night he thought and they both mentioned it early morning today that nobody can come in between them. They will be united and will be together always. Paro promised also the same thing. She took the eighth vachan too.  And now the only thing which stands between him and Paro is the doubt in his mind. Only if he was not analysing things so much. Only if he could trust people more openly. Like Samrat , Sunehri and many others. How peaceful life would have been. For once he felt envious of such people. But he never was one of them. His childhood and later the BSD training made sure of that.

 

He again looked at the watch. It was almost 12.  He was sitting in the lobby of the hotel.  Trying to hide his face behind a newspaper. The grandfather’s clock started chiming. He looked up and he saw his Cindrella coming down the stairs.

 

Was she swaying or is it his imagination playing tricks on him ?

 

“Rudra, what are you doing here reading news paper ? Do you know how long I have been waiting for you. Aayiye , Shrimaan Rudra Pratap Ranawat....” her words slurred. And he knew she was intoxicated.

 

“Ppaar.....I was just coming. I had to check some news in the paper.” He just stopped in time again from calling her Paro.

 

“You know you are a bad liar. You say something and your eyes say something else. Are you avoiding me ?”

 

“No.........I am not.”

 

“Hamaari Shaadi Hui Hai Aaj. “ she whispered coming close to his ear, “ Suhaagan Bani Hoon. Suhaag Raat Toh Banta Hai Na ?” she smiled looking at him sweetly.

 

She cannot be anybody other than Paro. The innocence combined with naughtiness. And the question. Which is exactly what she had asked on the night of their hate marriage.

 

He stood there mesmerised by her words, by her lips, by her eyes. She took hold of his left hand with her right one. And pulled him along. And Rudra allowed himself to be pulled by a swaying Paro. They went up the steps – at her pace. She talking nonstop and he in his own thoughts. She opened the door with the key in hand and pulled him hard so as to go inside before the door closes itself. He would have hit his right should on the door frame if Paro had not pulled him to the left. He woke up from the trance due to the sudden pull. She looked back with half closed eyes and said, “ Don’t worry. I am not that drunk. I will not let you get hurt. Against the door. “

 

In a few steps they both were near the bed. “ Haan Aa Gaye. Finally.” Saying this she pushed him onto the cot.

 

And then she walked back to the door to put the chain in place and looked back at him. “ I am so unhappy that you did not come up earlier. Why are you so aloof all of a sudden ?  Did I do or say something ? Did something happen ?”

 

“No nothing happened. You are drunk. Go to sleep. “

 

She walked to his side of the bed. Leaned over him. For a minute he thought she was going to hug him. He very badly needed one. But his mind was plagued with doubts. He wanted  to drive away all his doubts. Fears and worries. Maybe the hug will help. But does she expect more from him tonight ? How can they spend the night when he is in a confused state ?

 

He closed his eyes and waited. How is he going to see through this phase ? Rudra was never this much of a coward. Then why is his hand not moving to either pull her to him or push her away ? Why this dilemma ?

 

Even after a few seconds when he could not feel her touch him he opened his eyes. The sight surprised him. She was stretching her hand to take the half empty champagne bottle on the other side of the bed. Once she got hold of it, she settled on the floor next to the bed and started taking sips.

 

“Cheers to Mrs and Mr Rudra Pratap Ranawat. “ she raised the bottle.

 

“Dekh, Bahut Pi CHuki Ho. Ab Band Karo aur Chup Chap So Jao.”

 

“We just got married today. Abhi Se you are trying to control me like a husband ? “

 

“Dekh. Zyaada Mat Pina. Otherwise you will get a headache tomorrow. “

 

“ Yeah I know. I remember. But I want to drink.  Now if you have to stop me from drinking there is a way. Instead of me you keep drinking the wine. “ She pointed to the unopened wine bottle.

 

“No I am fine. I am not a wine person.  “ Rudra had already had couple of drinks with his friends earlier. He had no intention of getting drunk and doing something stupid. Stupid ? As in what ? Hugging her ? Kissing her ? Why is that stupid ? He wished his mind stopped talking for once. Maybe it is a good idea to get drunk. At least he can have a peaceful night.

 

“I am only asking you to drink wine. Not milk. And you are not allergic to wine – are you ? So come on. Rudra. Start or else I will.........” That mention of milk and the blackmail worked. Rudra was flooded with their memories of their first night after hate marriage. The more he looked at her and the more hea heard her – his doubts started vanishing.

 

“Okay... I will. Hold on.” And he opened the bottle and took a large gulp. Must be one of the most expensive. It tasted divine on his tongue. In spite of the fact that he never liked wine.

 

“Next one MajorSaab.......As long as wine flows down your throat the champagne will remain in my bottle” She winked and started counting and he took another gulp and another.

 

Before he knew it his bottle was empty. Surprisingly hers was too.

 

“You cheated ? “ Rudra asked

 

“Everything is fair in war and love. Right ? “ and saying this she passed out. He was not sure what to make of her last statement. He tried to think and make some sense out of it but the drinks plus the wine and the long day made his eyes droop slightly. He got up slowly , lifted  Paro in his hands and made her sleep on the bed. He was about to move to the other side of the bed when her hand came out and pulled him closer. She turned around hugged him tight nuzzling her nose against his neck.

 

“Where are you running away to ? Are you tired Rudra ? “

 

“Nahin Toh ? Kyon ? ” he stopped thinking. Forgot about everything else. It was just him and his wife Paro. He will think of all the doubts tomorrow. For now it is just him in her arms and she in his.

 

“Just asked. “ she muttered.

 

“What do you want me to do ? To bring something for you from the pantry ? Are you hungry ?” he could not help teasing her. He can get used to this. Teasing her. As he always used to.

 

“Shhhhhh.......No talking” she admonished.

 

He lifted his head and brought it down near her face. Their noses touching they looked at each other.

 

“Then what do you want to do ? “ he asked

 

She glanced at his lips meaningfully.

 

He kissed her chin. Then her right cheek and then the left. She waited. He lips hovered just above hers. Waiting for her to call him what she always does.

 

“Jallaad” she said with a shiver of anticipation.

 

And he lost whatever little, feeble resistance he had held onto. He snaked his arm under her and lifted her to meet his lips. And then he set out to give his eager bride what she was waiting for all this time. What he also wanted – without doubt.  Uninhibited love and passion.

 

A fitting scene for the black suit and the red sari. Which they missed in Jaipur.

 

So in a nutshell this is what happened in the day. They say history repeats itself. But for Parud history mirrors itself. Here is how –

 

Then – he made her go through a hate marriage

Now – she convinced him to go through a love marriage

 

Then – it was a Jugaad Ki Shaadi

Now – it was a dream wedding

 

Then – the red dhaga was tied

Now – the Mangal Sutra was selected by him

 

Then – he uttered the eighth hate vachan

Now – she uttered the eighth vachan with lots of love

 

Then -  he left her in the hall and went away

Now – he remained in the reception unsure of what to do

 

Then – she was plagued by worries

Now – he was worried about who she actually is

 

Then - he sauntered back to take his Dulhan back to their room

Now – she came back swaying to take him to their room

 

Then – he was drunk

Now – she is drunk

 

Then – he made her drink milk

Now – she made him drink wine

 

Then - she carried him onto the bed

Now – he carried her and placed her on the bed

 

Then – they slept on the bed holding hands

Now – they slept on the bed in each other’s arms

 

A perfect Suhaag Raat for the perfect couple after their perfect wedding. Will their married life be perfect ? That is for us to wait and see.

 

The question might come back to haunt him tomorrow. Whether she is really Paro ? Or is she Myrah who came to know about Paro and Rudra story from Phulwari and started dreaming about them ? He will make a list of all the things that made him believe she is Paro. And the only thing against it being the association with the NGO woman Phulwari. He will do lot more analysis in his brain. He will probably question quite a number of people. He will gather a lot of information to prove she is indeed Paro.

 

Is Rudra in for a roller coaster ride ?

OR will he forget all the questions and doubts in wake of the wonderful night they shared ?

 

 If you reached till here I am assuming you read the chapter fully. Please leave your comments, thoughts and feedback. If you are facing issues in posting comments please send a mail to jjkkliftkaradey@gmail.com We would like to hear from you.